Re: RAT Grad School

[Ezra Buzzington <jonoh1@juno.com>]

Hi Llysa,
  Ever impressed with your style and flair, m'dear. However, I have a few
questions and observations:

>DARE TO SUCK.

This is the problem. The fact that somebody out there somewhere decided a
long time ago that in a rehearsal process there is something known as
"sucking".  This very belief system has put much power into irresponsible
hands. 
When a baby makes its' first attempts at walking does the parent sit
back, observe, pontificate and say, well, s/he eventually got there but
those first steps really sucked? And then <grade> them on it?

>FAIL with FLAIR.

So that your GPA will drop and, well, at least you tried? Wrong. If one
is looking to pursue a career/life in the theatre then one should do
EVERYTHING with flair. How nice to think that this could actually be
possible in grad school. But it's just like television and christianity.
Great ideas in concept but crap in application.


>SUBVERT with a smile.

Oh, yes. Don't forget that smile. Just subverting isn't enough. Couldn't
this also be read as "lie to their face"?

 in a supported atmosphere where the 
>only
>$$$ on the line are student loans,


 I'm sorry, It's "only" student loan $$$ on the line? As oppossed to
what? As you well know, zillions of fringe productions could be produced
on what one student pays a university for x number of years attendance.
Don't kid yourself, kiddo. It's always about the money.

 Why are you waiting for them? If you have an idea, do it. 
>If you see a vision, share it.

Exactly. Unfortunately for many young artists who get accepted into
programs, they are quickly thwarted by the authoritative structure. One
cannot dictate art. Yet still they try.


>So - pro grad school- it would have saved me 
>TIME 

Boy, is <that> the truth. I couldn't agree more. However, in those rare
moments when I question my chosen (non-academic) path, I ask myself, at
what cost? It's a life journey, not a day trip. I wouldn't trade my years
fumbling on my face in NYC for anything in the world. Theatre of the
streets, baby.

>Hard choices make for interesting teachers.

Hand me some wine. What the hell does that mean? I love you Llysa, and
confess to being completely baffled by that sentence.

 (At least I 
>got to
>take an acting class with Anna Deavere Smith at ACT one summer. That 
>rocked,
>mostly because I did so many things WRONG.

AAAAAAAUUUUUGHHHHHH!!!!!! This is <exactly> the kind of thinking that
(IMHO) holds back artists and thwarts their abilities. Wrong? You <must>
get back to me on this. There is no wrong in the theatre. This is not
merely semantical. If there's a wrong, it must be assumed that there is a
right. There isn't. There are <different> choices only. Some not
supported by text, others motivated by ego rather than character,
whatever. But there are no wrong choices. I'll say it till I die. And
back it up. And for those of you who have not had the pleasure of getting
to know me, let me say this: by saying that the choices are not "wrong"
but rather "different", I am not motivated by any desire, however great
or small, to be "correct", "supportive", or any other nu-ageist touchy
feely kind of verbage that evades the point and only succeeds in making
everybody feel all gooey. I'm a radical, grizzled, grumpy theatrician who
has lived his entire life in the theatre and plans to stay there no
matter what anybody else does or doesn't do.
  Congrats on the show, Llysa and my best to Andrew -
  Wish I could see it

  Jonathan Harris

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